Su’a Cravens has played in exactly one NFL football game — a preseason game — over the last 22 months. That’s it.

His long and winding path — a year lost on the Redskins’ exempt list with post-concussion syndrome, a March trade to the Broncos, significant missed time through training camp with a knee injury and September arthroscopic surgery — is expected to finally pay off Sunday amid the roar of Mile High.

Cravens remained on injured reserve as of late Thursday, but a roster move is expected Friday to activate the 6-foot-1, 224-pound former second-round NFL draft pick. Cravens flashed promise in his lone preseason appearance at the Cardinals with versatility and range — 10 snaps at free safety, six at strong safety, three in man coverage against a tight end and twice in goal-line defense — before discovering further damage to his left knee.

“I was ready to play Week 1 and then an injury comes,” Cravens said. “I had a torn meniscus the whole time, not even knowing.”

Cravens’ absence is part of a larger depth issue in the Broncos’ secondary. Veteran cornerback Adam Jones missed several games with a thigh injury. Safety Darian Stewart left Arizona in Week 8 with a neck issue. And, cornerback Bradley Roby missed practices this week with a knee problem. Cravens is confident his transition into the defensive backfield will be seamless due to preparation.

“It hasn’t been a vacation for me. I haven’t been home in California or anything,” Cravens said. “If I wasn’t rehabilitating, I was in the defensive meetings and learning everything. I’ve been doing the exact same schedule beside playing. I’m glad that I’m getting rewarded with playing now.”

His first test is daunting. Second-year Texans quarterback DeShaun Watson has led Houston to five straight victories with six touchdowns and zero interceptions over his past two starts. The Texans’ rushing attack is no joke, either, producing 123 yards per game (No. 11 in the NFL). Cravens’ ability to play multiple positions with physicality sets up as a key commodity in limiting Houston’s high-powered offense.

“(Cravens) is a great blitzer and he can play the run,” cornerback Chris Harris said. “He’s a big body size that can guard the tight ends, too. Just another big body. He’s going to be huge. A lot of times he’s going to play right next to me. So I’ll try to slow the game down for him, communicate with him a lot and make it easier for him.”

Added coach Vance Joseph: “I think Su’a is a natural in-the-box dime linebacker. With all the passing game you’re seeing on first and second down out of three-wides, he’s a perfect fit for what we’re seeing now from offenses.”

In addition to getting that first big hit, Cravens is also aiming to contribute to a bounce-back victory. The pain of his absence was amplified by a 3-5 record midway through his first Broncos season. He plans to change the narrative.

“We have ballers everywhere on defense,” Cravens said. “I just feel like we’re not making every play that we should make. We’re leaving a lot of plays out there and a lot of our games have come down to one score. Hopefully, I can be the one that comes in and picks up those plays that we’re missing on and that’s what we need to get this ball rolling.”

A 38-yard catch by Emmanuel Sanders and a 30-yard reception by Courtland Sutton set up Brandon McManus’ 34-yard field goal as time expired Sunday, giving the Broncos a 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

In his long-running role as the Chargers’ yappy quarterback, Rivers is the football villain Denver loves to hate most. On this November afternoon, Rivers inexplicably decided to pick a fight with Harris, the Broncos’ shutdown corner.